Serpentine belt spec and replacement steps

[staminqia]

I want to replace my serpentine belt and I have read all of the posts on belts but it would be nice to have one post that describes the recommended belt spec whether a 80" or 80.2" or 80.5" is the best for the vehicle and also a step by step tutorial on replacement.

I saw one post about using a rope to pull the belt onto to the tensioner but it would be nice to have a little video or pictures.

Any help would be great.

Thanks.

[Matt B]

I just replaced my 91 original belt with an ACDELCO 6K802 (80.5"). I compared it with the stock one and they are exactly the same size.
Not sure if my steps are correct, but here is how I did it. First I removed the plastic hose that connects air horn and air filter housing. Then with a belt removal tool I pulled back the tensioner. If put in place nicely you can fix the shaft of the tool at the air horn so everything stays in place while working. Otherwise ask a second person for help.
Removing the belt is fiddly, particularly around the crankshaft pulley. If you don't love your belt it's easier to just cut it.
Replacing the tensioner pulley would be the next step. There is only very little room to work so I removed the entire tensioner but couldn't get it out of the engine. I could have removed the air horn but was lacking gaskets so I chose to do some surgery and replace the pulley right where it was. It worked but was not my best idea.
Then just mount the new belt in reverse order and refer to the diagram sticking on the radiator housing. I started at the crankshaft pulley and ended at the tensioner as my replacement pulley doesn't have edges like the original.
Finally unleash the tensioner and mount whatever else you removed to work.
According to the other things I did to my ZR this was one of the easiest items.

[staminqia]

thanks Matt I will try that.